Book 4 - Schemer of the Scalding Sands: Chapter 14; Extravagant Water

The screen turns on as the chapter title plays "Chapter - 14; Extravagant Water".

Now out in the desert as they were nearing the end of their march.

The end place was an empty oasis with a bunch of dead or at least dehydrated trees around the big pit where the water should be.

Yuu was staying under the shadow of one of the umbrellas that were brought along to keep at least some of the sun off the students, nearby Grim.

He decided to take most of the route in the sun to prove he was indeed Grim the Great, but ultimately ended up walking under the shade of the umbrella with Yuu.

Yuu took another look at the marching group as they reached a stop and mumbled "I've seen this scene in my dreams. A parade of elephants and camels with a prince riding one…"

Grim taped her with one of his paws as he asked "Hey, Yuu, what're you starin' off into space for? Did the heat get to you?" as if he hadn't been such a big issue for him before.

Kalim is then seen again, with red pupils again now, as he announced to all of them "Everyone, halt!" as they had reached the end place in the desert although they still had to march 5 km or 3.1 miles back to the dorm building.

Grim wipes sweat off of his forehead with his paws as he says relieved "Phew. We made it at last!"

Jamil then announces to the students "We will take a fifteen-minute break. Then we march back to the dorm."

The students are relieved that they at least got a break between the marching.

Grim then rushes over to the 'oasis' saying "Finally, some water…!" But once he looks at it he shouts "Wait! What kinda bizarro oasis is this?! It's empty!"

Kalim asks "Water?" with his pupils red for a second before he shakes his head and they turn back to the normal black as he asks "You say you want water?"

Grim answers "Uh, duh? My throat's dry as a bone!" Kalim nods and claps his hands happily once before he exclaims "Then water you shall have…and I'll make it cool and refreshing for you!"

He then starts a chant for his unique magic "Respite in the scalding sands, a never-ending party! Dance! Sing! Oasis Maker!"

…

It then starts to rain!

Grim relishes in the rain shouting "Oooh! Sweet, merciful rain!" A student is then overheard happily exclaiming as well "I was feeling like a withered husk for a minute there, but this water's refreshing me from the inside out!" Another is heard as well "Ahhh… I needed that!"

Kalim happily claps once again before putting his hands on his hips and saying "You really like it? If water's all you want, then I'll produce enough to fill this whole oasis!"

Kalim then notices Yuu looks rather curiously at the rain, all while still trying to drink a little. So he then explains "That's my signature spell/unique magic Oasis Maker. It allows me to expend a little bit of magic power to produce large volumes of the finest water."

Grim now off his water high says "Y'know… Making a buncha water seems really low-key for a signature spell. There are plenty of other spells that let you conjure water…"

Kalim rather playfully crosses his arms as he says "I beg to differ. The point of Oasis Maker is its efficiency. It produces a lot using a very small amount of magic. Back before the advent of running water, one would have to draw their own water and boil it to sterilize it. A spell like mine would have been a tremendous boom back then." Kalim then shrugs before he continues with "But I guess you're right. Now that running water is a widespread service, it's not the most useful of spells." before he laughed lightly. He then pumps his fist as he finishes with "But hey! I'm still confident that the water I conjure is the finest, most delicious water in all the land!"

Grim then nods as he says, seeming realizing something as Kalim said that last bit "Now that you mention it, it's basically the perfect temperature. Not too cold to drink, but not lukewarm, either. And it goes down all nice 'n smooth, like fresh spring water."

Jamil frowns as he asks "Since when are monster water aficionados?" This made Grim shout at him "Hey, I resent that! I've got a discerning palate for everything!" Kalim nodded rather happily as he said "I figured! I was right to hope you would appreciate the difference."

He then pulls a cracker out of who knows where and shoved it towards Grim telling him "Here, have a cracker as a treat!" Grim tried to push it away as he shouted "Erk! I'm hungry, sure. But this ain't the best time for dry and crumbly foods!"

Yuu, although glad to have this personality of Kalim back, frowned and mumbled "He's acting differently then before we set out. Is he back to his sunny disposition from before?" Grim heard and whispered back to her "Now that ya mention it, it's like those were two different guys."

Kalim seems to hear as he asks the duo with Jamil standing next to him "Hm? Did you say something, Yuu?"

Jamil then speaks up "Kalim, our fifteen minutes are just about up. Let's assemble the students and get back to the dorm." Kalim seems kinda pouty and surprised about this as he asks Jamil "Already? A little more time to catch our breath wouldn't hurt them any." Jamil states "The sun will rise higher if we take too long. The hotter it gets, the worse our trip back will be." Kalim nods understandingly at that as he says "You've got a point."

Before then announcing it to the students "Okay, guys! Let's get back to the dorm and have breakfast! Back to marching!"

The screen then fades to black as "To be continued" plays before fully turning off.